The Bauchi State Administrative Committee of Inquiry into Land Disputes between the herders and farmers on Monday called for the stakeholders’ support, to end such clashes in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Bala Mohammed had, on July 8, constituted an Administrative Committee of inquiry into the land disputes between the herders and the farmers, in the 20 local government areas of the state.
Mohammed mandated the committee to submit its report within four weeks, from the date of its inauguration.
Mr Yahaya Baba, the Chairman of the Committee solicited the support of the stakeholders in a statement in Bauchi.
He said that the committee would be receiving both written and oral contributions from all stakeholders, that could assist in the discharge of its responsibilities.
“The committee can be supported by making any recommendations that will promote permanent resolution of the herders and farmers clashes across the state,” he said.
Baba noted that the committee had, with the terms of reference, to visit all the 20 local government areas and Government Reserve Forests, with the aim of ascertaining their sanctity in the state.
“To investigate and determine if such government reserve areas are being illegally allocated by unauthorised persons, or groups of persons and those persons who are the beneficiaries of such illegal allocations.
“Determine the persons or authorities directly or indirectly involved in such illegal allocation of the portion of the government’s forests reserve areas.
“To also determine all the cattle routes within and outside the forests reserve and identify areas or portions of encroachment by the farmers,” he said.
According to him, the committee will make recommendations on measures to be taken, to re-establish the cattle routes, forests reserve, as well as prevent the herders and farmers’ conflicts in the state.
Baba noted that the committee would make recommendations to promote permanent resolution of such clashes across in Bauchi State.
The chairman, however, said that the committee would be fair in its recommendations on measures to be taken on the land disputes in the state.
